Patriot and loyalist forces marched along the sandy Negro Head Point Road, which linked interior North Carolina to the coast and served as the destination route of the loyalist army led by Brig. Gen. Donald MacDonald. By late February 1776, it was the last direct route not blocked by the patriots. The arrival of troops at Moores Creek followed weeks of maneuvering as each side countered the other. The loyalists intended to join a British fleet near Wilmington, but patriots blocked their way at Cross Creek. Outnumbered, the patriots made a calculated withdrawal in front of the loyalists, cutting all bridges as they passed. Knowing that Moores Creek provided the last defendable position before Wilmington, they devised a plan using terrain and guile to lure the loyalists, now led by Capt. Donald McLeod, into a trap. On February 9, patriot forces under Moore, Lillington, and Ashe left Wilmington. On February 10, Caswell and 850 men left New Bern, marching toward Cross Creek. On February 19, patriots blocked Gen. MacDonald at Cross Creek. On February 23, Caswell prepared an ambush at Corbett's Ferry, but MacDonald evaded him by crossing the Black River farther upstream. On February 25, Lillington's 150 minutemen arrived at Moores Creek. On February 26, Caswell's 850 militia arrived at Moores Creek. On February 27, McLeod's loyalists arrived at Moores Creek to find Caswell's camp deserted, and on February 27 they were defeated at the Battle of Moores Creek Bridge.